Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-06-28
THE STATEHOOD" SCHEME.

of Statehood, under the present action Of
the Mormon Church, the movement, de-
signed for another purpose-or rather
purposes-is none the less fraught with
significance and perhaps danger to the
well being of the Territory from Cen
tile standpoint. 1t is quite certain that
none of the originators, and probably
none OF the principal agitators, OF the
alleged scheme have the faintest hope
of effecting that which they publish as
their ostensible and immediate object.
Tney are well aware that the time
is not ripe for the accomplishment
of that end, and while The
SD ldenly revived Statehood cry is
doubtless intended in part as a promoter
Of the ultimate admission of Utah as a
sovereign State, it is a minor factor in the
immediate design which prompted the
Constitutional Convention scheme at the
presenttme. Nothing could be more alb
surd than the supposition that Congress
would seriously consider the question un-
der the present condition of affairs in this
Territory. A clause in the proposed con-
stitution prohibiting polygamy would in
spire no more confidence in the sincerity
of its authors, than provision forbidding
the holding of religious services in the
Mormon tabernacles and meeting
houses on Sundays. 1t is ridiculous
to suppose that Congress could
be guled into accepting such
q concession" as made in good faith, in
the face of the fact that the very men
who propose it, with the entire Mormon
Church and press, are denouncing and
resisting by every means in their power,
the execution of the law against the
crime which they profess their willing
ness to abolish by constitutional enact
ment. This, as a general proposition,
without any reference to the political sit
uation, which is decidedly unfavorable
to the admission OF any new States, un-
less by such compromise as would give
neither of the great National parties the
advantage in the matters of Congress
sional representation and electoral
votes. With a Republican Senate
and Democratic House it is
not reasonable TO presume that
any Territory, with known political ma
jority in favor of one party, will be ad-
mitted without the corresponding acquisi-
ton OF another upon the other side. Da-
kota is the only Republican. Territory
seeking admission, while the Democrats
have two, Montana and Washington,
both of which are eligible, so far as pop
ulation and resources are concerned, to
the dignity OF Statehood. Under these
circumstances no Omnibus bill" could
be formulated which would embrace
more than two Territories, Dakota and a
Democratic one, that would stand the
shadow OF a chance OF passing both
Houses OF Congress. The Democrats
would have their choice between
Montana and Washington, and it is
not supposable that they would accept
Utah, with its uncertain political position
in preference to Territory with a pro-
nounced and unmistakable Democratic
record and history. The only possibility
for a political compromise would be for
the Mormon leaders TO pledge Utah to
the Republican party, and for the latter
to accept it with Dakota, as offsets against
Washington and Montana. This is, how
ever, SO remote a contingency as to
arouse no serious feelings of alarm. That
the Mormons would not hesitate to make
such pledge to effect their purpose
is more than probable, but that
the Republicans would base their
party action upon belief in their sincerity,
is scarcely to be regarded as within the
limits Of possibility. The admission of any
Territory, when the two great National
parties are 50 evenly divided as they are
at the present time, cannot be accom-
plished without including in the same
bill another as political balance, Utah
cannot serve as q make-weight for either
side, consequently she can cut no figure
in any political deal OF that kind. The
Mormon leaders are well aware of
this. They recognize the impossibility
OF Statehood for Utah for years
to come. The present movement is
not intended to accomplish what
the published programme denotes.
1t is merely a blind to effect another
purpose. Frightened by the narrow
escape at the last session from their
removal from political power in the Ter
ritory, they recognize the necessity of a
radical change in their tactics. They
have concluded upon the concessive and
conservative sham. They propose a
Constitutional Convention and the adop-
ton OF q clause prohibiting polygamy
forever in the Territory. While they
know that such q promise will be disre
garded in their application for Statehood,
they shrewdly imagine, and perhaps
with good reason, that their pre-
tended concession will serve as a
powerful weapon to ward off ag-
gressive legislation at the next
and succeeding sessions of Congress.
This is the inspiration of the Statehood
revelation. Gentiles should not be de-
luded into spending their ammunition
upon a harmless effigy. Let them re-
serve it for the real object of attack,
which they may rest assured will present |
itself at the next session OF Congress,
and it will not be in the shape of an
earnest application for the admission of
Utah. 1t is hoped, moreover, by the
Mormon leaders that this movement will |
lead the Gentiles into the mistake of |
continuing 10 ignore party lines
here, and making their election
fight under the Liberal banner. |